A man and woman were shot and killed in front of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening, local media reported.

Initial reports indicated that one of the victims was a staffer of the Israeli embassy in Washington. Later reports clarified that both were employed by the embassy.

Eyewitnesses said the shooter shouted "Free Palestine" before carrying out the attack.

The suspect has been named as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago.

Eyewitness Sara Marinuzzi told CNN that the shooter "pretended to be a witness," asked security to call the police, and waited over 10 minutes for police to arrive. When they arrived, he admitted to the crime, telling police, "I did it, I did it for Gaza. Free Palestine!"

"There were some more shots and then a guy came running into the center, and the security guards offered him water, trying to comfort him. He was kind of having erratic behavior. They figured he witnessed the shooting," she explained.

According to NBC4, the shooting took place in the area in front of the Capital Jewish Museum and behind the FBI field office and the US attorney's office.

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is responding.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said the incident was a shooting attack.

“The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. – in which Israeli embassy employees were also injured – is a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism,” he said.

“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world,” added Danon.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that the two people who were killed were staff of the Israeli embassy.

"Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims," she said.

"We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice," added Noem.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of two staff members from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC. Our prayers are with their loved ones."

"This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice."

The shooting took place during an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in the museum.

AJC CEO Ted Deutch said in a statement, "American Jewish Committee (AJC) can confirm that we hosted an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. this evening."

"We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue."

"At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families," said Deutch.

Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, said the incident occurred just after 9:00 p.m. Officers located an adult male and adult female not breathing at the scene. Both victims succumbed to their injuries.

She added that the suspect, who entered the museum after the shooting, was apprehended and is a 30-year-old from Chicago.

Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the two victims were a couple who were about to be engaged to be married.

He added that he had spoken to President Donald Trump who told him that "his administration is going to do everything it can possibly to fight and end antisemitism, and the hatred and delegitimization of the state of Israel."